Union Cabinet approves Rs 3,320 crore for Development of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary

November 17,2017:

Union Cabinet which is chaired by PM Narendra Modi has approved the continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for the Development of Infrastructure Facilities for Judiciary beyond 12th Five Year Plan i.e. from 01.04.2017 to 31.03.2020 to be implemented in a Mission Mode through the National Mission for Justice Delivery and the Legal Reforms with an estimated outlay of Rs.3,320 crore.Cabinet has also approved setting up of an on-line monitoring system with the geo-tagging by Department of Justice enabling the data collection on the progress, completion of the court halls and the residential units under construction, including for the future projects as well as better asset management and formulation of the norms and specification of the court halls and the residential units to be constructed under the Scheme for the implementation throughout India for future.

Benefits from the Scheme:

Scheme will increase availability of the suitable number of the Court Halls and the Residential Accommodations for the Judges / Judicial Officers of the District and the Subordinate Courts all over country including at District, Sub-District, Taluka, Tehsil and Gram Panchayat and Village levels.

This will also help in improving functioning and the performance of Judiciary across India in reaching out to the every citizen.

Financial assistance:

Central Assistance is provided to State Govt's / UT Administrations under Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for the Development of the Infrastructure Facilities for the Judiciary for construction of the court halls and the residential units for Judicial Officers / Judges of District and Subordinate Courts.

Funds sharing pattern for the Centre and State is 60:40 in respect of the States other than North Eastern and Himalayan States.

Funds sharing pattern is 90:10 in respect of the North Eastern and the Himalayan States; and 100% in respect of the Union Territories. This will help for completion of the on-going projects for construction of the 3,000 court halls and 1,800 residential units for the judicial officers of the District and the Subordinate Courts.

Monitoring of the Scheme:

An on-line monitoring system will be set up by Department of Justice enabling the data collection on the progress, completion of the court halls and residential units under construction as well as better asset management.

Regular meetings of Monitoring Committee may be organised in the various States with the State Chief Secretaries and the PWD officials to enable the speedy and good construction. It may be monitored if funds released by Centre are released without delay onward to the PWD by State Governments.

Background:

Central Government augments resources of States in this regard through Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for the development of the infrastructure facilities for the Judiciary which is being implemented since the year 1993-94. Central Assistance is provided to State Govt's / UT Administrations under Scheme for the Construction of the Court halls and the residential units for the Judicial Officers / Judges of the District and the Subordinate Courts.

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